The
members of the Security Council received a briefing on March 26, 2013 from
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Hervé Ladsous which outlined the
security risks and operational challenges facing UNDOF, including UNTSO’s
Observer Group Golan, due to the ongoing fighting in the Force's area of
operation by the parties to the Syrian domestic conflict. The members of
the Security Council expressed grave concern at all violations of the Disengagement
of Forces Agreement. In this
regard, the members of the Security Council expressed grave concern at the
presence of the Syrian Arab Republic Armed Forces inside the area of separation. Furthermore, the members of the
Security Council expressed grave concern at the presence of armed members of
the opposition in the area of separation.

The
members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern at the risk that
all military activities in the area of separation conducted by any actor pose
to the long-held ceasefire and the local population. The members of the
Security Council also underscored the increased risk the situation poses to
United Nations personnel on the ground, as highlighted in particular by the
detention of the 21 UNDOF military personnel by armed elements of the Syrian
opposition, the firing directed at United Nations personnel and facilities, and
the carjacking of United Nations vehicles.

The
members of the Security Council called on all parties, including armed elements
of the Syrian opposition, to respect UNDOF's freedom of movement and the safety
and security of its personnel, while recalling that the primary responsibility
for safety and security on the Bravo side rests with the Syrian Government.
The members of the Security Council called upon the government of the Syrian
Arab Republic to respect UNDOF’s privileges and immunities and to ensure the
security of and unhindered and immediate access for United Nations personnel
carrying out their mandate.

The
members of the Security Council reaffirmed their unconditional support for
UNDOF and expressed their deep
gratitude to UNDOF personnel and to
Troop Contributing Countries. The
members of the Security Council recalled their request in resolution 2084
(2012) for the Secretary-General to ensure the force has the capacity necessary
to fulfill the mandate. The
members of the Security Council welcomed the provision of additional security
upgrades and equipment to UNDOF and the additional steps taken to reduce the
risks to UNDOF personnel, and they reiterated the need to continue enhancing
the safety and security of UNDOF personnel in response to new threats.
To this end, the members of the Security Council called on all parties to
ensure safe and secure rotation activities of UNDOF, including through considering
the temporary use of an alternative port of entry and departure as required.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The
members of the Security Council received a briefing today from
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Hervé Ladsous which outlined the
security risks and operational challenges facing UNDOF due to the ongoing
fighting in the Force's area of operation by the parties to the Syrian domestic
conflict. The members of the Security Council condemned the presence of
Syrian Arab armed forces and unauthorized military equipment in the area of
separation as a grave violation of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.

The
members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern at the risk that
all military activities in the area of separation conducted by any actor pose
to the long-held ceasefire and the local population. The members of the
Security Council also underscored the increased risk the situation poses to
United Nations personnel on the ground, as highlighted in particular by the
detention of the 21 UNDOF military personnel, the firing directed at United
Nations personnel and facilities, and the carjacking of United Nations
vehicles.

The
members of the Security Council called on all parties, including armed elements
of the Syrian opposition, to respect UNDOF's freedom of movement and the safety
and security of its personnel, while recalling that the primary responsibility
for safety and security on the Bravo side rests with the Syrian Government.
The members of the Security Council called upon the government of the Syrian
Arab Republic to respect UNDOF’s privileges and immunities and to ensure the
security of and unhindered and immediate access for United Nations personnel
carrying out their mandate.

The
members of the Security Council reaffirmed their unconditional support for
UNDOF and expressed their deep
gratitude to UNDOF personnel and to
Troop Contributing Countries. The
members of the Security Council recalled their request in resolution 2084
(2012) for the Secretary-General to ensure the force has the capacity necessary
to fulfill the mandate. The
members of the Security Council welcomed the provision of additional security
upgrades and equipment to UNDOF and the additional steps taken to reduce the
risks to UNDOF personnel, and they reiterated the need to continue enhancing
the safety and security of UNDOF personnel in response to new threats.
To this end, the members of the Security Council concurred with the
Secretary-General’s assessment that the deteriorating security situation makes
it necessary for UNDOF personnel to use temporarily an alternative port of
entry and departure to ensure safe and secure rotation activities, and they
called on all parties to help facilitate UNDOF in doing so.

Good morning. Thank you for coming at this early hour and with such short notice. Thank you very much again.

As you know, there have been disturbing reports about the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria.

The two-year long conflict has plunged the country into extreme chaos with terrible consequences for the Syrian people.

As the situation worsens, the international community’s concern about the safety and security of chemical weapons stockpiles as well as possible use of by all parties has increased.

I have repeatedly stated that use of chemical weapons by any side under any circumstances would constitute an outrageous crime. Anyone responsible must be held accountable.

I have emphasized the primary responsibility of the Syrian Government to ensure the safety and security of any such weapons or materials.

I have spoken out on this many times and sent letters to President Assad twice to remind him of this solemn duty.

Against this backdrop, yesterday I received a formal request from the Syrian authorities requesting a specialized, impartial and independent mission to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons.

If requested by a Member State, I have a mandate to consider conducting an investigation on alleged uses of chemical, biological and toxin weapons pursuant to General Assembly resolution 42/37 C of 1987 and reaffirm by Security Council resolution 620 of 1988.

With this in mind, I would like to announce that I have decided to conduct a United Nations investigation on the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria.

My senior advisers are working on the modalities in close consultation with the relevant bodies, including the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

These include detailed issues such as: overall mandate, mission composition, and operational conditions including safety and security.

I have also been in close contact with OPCW Director-General Mr. Ahmet Űzűmcu and WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan. They have both assured me of their full support and cooperation.

It is my hope that the mission would contribute to ensuring the safety and security of chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria.

The investigation mission is to look into the specific incident brought to my attention by the Syrian Government. I am, of course, aware that there are other allegations of similar cases involving the reported use of chemical weapons.

In discharging its mandate of an investigation mission, full cooperation from all parties will be essential.

I stress that this includes unfettered access.

I will reiterate this point in my communication with the Syrian authorities.

I will also communicate my decision to the Security Council.

There is much work to do and this will not happen overnight. It is obviously a difficult mission. I intend for this investigation to start as soon as practically possible.

Again my announcement should serve as an unequivocal reminder that the use of chemical weapons is a crime against humanity.

The international community needs full assurance that chemical weapons stockpiles are verifiably safeguarded.

Finally, let me repeat that the horrors of the last months and years prove beyond doubt: the military solution in Syria is leading to the dissolution of Syria.

I call on the regional and international community to find unity and support the efforts of Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi to help the Syrian people reach a political solution.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Attached is an advance copy of the Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) for the period from 1 January to 31 March 2013 for the information of the members of the Security Council.

This report will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/2013/174.

19 March 2013

Report of the Secretary-General

On the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)

for the period from 1 January to 31 March 2013

I. Introduction

1. The present report gives an account of the activities of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) during the past three months pursuant to the mandate contained in Security Council resolution 350 (1974) and extended in subsequent resolutions, most recently through resolution 2084 (2012).

II. Situation in the area and activities of the Force

2. During the period under review, the ceasefire in the Israel-Syrian Arab Republic sector generally was maintained, albeit in an increasingly volatile environment attributable to the ongoing conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic. Over the past three months, the Syrian Arab Armed Forces continued their deployment and carried out military activities and security operations against armed members of the opposition in the UNDOF area of operation. Inside the area of separation, the presence of the Syrian armed forces and unauthorized military equipment are in violation of the Disengagement Agreement. Numerous clashes took place between Syrian security forces and armed members of the opposition in the areas of separation and limitation on the Bravo side.

3. In the context of these confrontations, on 27 February, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) informed UNDOF that a tank shell fired by the Syrian armed forces crossed the ceasefire line, but did not explode. UNDOF could not confirm this as it had not observed any firing across the ceasefire line. On 2 March, following an IDF report that shells fired from the Syrian side crossed the ceasefire line, UNDOF visited the location three hours after the reported incident and found that the metal fragments on the ground did not appear to have come from a newly fired round.

UNDOF, therefore, was not able to confirm this incident. In a 4 March letter, the Permanent Representative of Israel informed me that on 27 February and 2 March fire from Syria landed on the Israeli-occupied Golan in violation of the 1974 Agreement of Disengagement between Israeli and Syrian Forces. He urged the Security Council to address the situation, alerting the Council to the risk of escalation.

4. The area of separation saw continued, often intense, clashes between the Syrian armed forces and armed members of the opposition, largely in the villages of Jabbata, Trunje, Al Horaye and Ufaniyah as well as the forest in the vicinity of the ceasefire line in the north, and in the villages of Baraika and Bir Ajam in the south. Firing from inside and outside the area of separation, by artillery, mortars, main battle tanks, machine guns and anti-aircraft guns towards Jabbata, Trunje, Ufaniyah, Al Horaye, Al Quatanyia, Jaba, Bir Ajam and Baraika continued to occur on a daily basis. There also have been continued clashes in the areas of Khan Arnabah, Al Baath and New Hamediya, mainly along UNDOF’s Main Supply Road. Since the end of January, a Syrian armed forces main battle tank and an anti-aircraft gun have remained in the area of separation in the vicinity of Khan Arnabah and at Al Quatanyia, respectively.

The
following Security Council press statement was issued on XX by
Council President Vitaly Churkin (Russia):

Security
Council members have been briefed by the Special Coordinator for
Lebanon and the Director of Africa and Middle East Division at the
Department of Peacekeeping Operations following the report of the
Secretary-General on the implementation of Security Council
resolution 1701 (2006).

Security
Council members are encouraged by the calm that continues to prevail
across the Blue Line and in the United Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon’s (UNIFIL) area of operations. They urged all
parties to make every effort to ensure that the cessation of
hostilities is sustained, and emphasized the need for them to
continue working with the Special Coordinator and UNIFIL, including
through the tripartite mechanism, to build upon it and to move
forward on all outstanding issues in the implementation of Security
Council resolutions 1701 (2006), 1559 (2004) and other relevant
Security Council resolutions. They also stressed the necessity for
all parties to ensure that the freedom of movement of UNIFIL is fully
respected and unimpeded.

Security
Council members underscored their grave concern over repeated
incidents of cross-border fire which caused death and injury among
the Lebanese population, incursions, abductions and arms trafficking
across the Lebanese-Syrian border, as well as other border
violations. They underlined the importance of full respect for
Lebanon's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and the
authority of the Lebanese State in accordance with Security Council
resolutions.

Security
Council members expressed also their deep concern at the impact of
the Syrian crisis on Lebanon’s stability. They appealed to all
Lebanese people to preserve national unity in the face of attempts to
undermine the country’s stability and stressed the need for all
Lebanese parties to respect Lebanon’s policy of disassociation and
to refrain from any involvement in the Syrian crisis, consistent with
their commitment in the Baabda Declaration.

Security
Council members welcomed the continued efforts of President Sleiman
to preserve Lebanon's unity and stability. They encouraged all
parties in Lebanon to make swift progress to ensure that
parliamentary elections take place on a consensual basis within the
legal and constitutional framework. They also recalled the need to
put an end to impunity in Lebanon and reiterated their full support
for the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Security
Council members also acknowledged the important role played by the
Lebanese security and armed forces in sustaining national unity and
sovereignty, and welcomed steps being taken to further develop their
capacities, including through the strategic dialogue with UNIFIL, and
encouraged further international assistance to this end.

Security
Council members, gravely concerned at the impact of the growing flow
of refugees fleeing violence in Syria, now totalling over 360,000 in
Lebanon, called upon the international community to follow through on
humanitarian aid pledges made during the Kuwait conference of January
29, 2013. They commended Lebanon's generous efforts in hosting and
assisting those refugees.

PP1. Recalling its resolutions 1970 (2011) of 26 February 2011, 1973 (2011) of 17
March 2011, 2009 (2011) of 16 September 2011, 2016 (2011) of 27 October 2011,
2017 (2011) of 31 October 2011, 2022 (2011) of 2 December 2011, and 2040 of 12
March (2012),

PP2. Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial
integrity and national unity of Libya,

PP4.
Looking forward to a
future for Libya based on national reconciliation, justice, respect for human
rights and the rule of law,

PP5.
Emphasising the importance of
promoting the equal and full participation of all sectors of Libyan society,
including women, youth and minority communities in the political process in the
post-conflict phase,

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the detention of a group of more than 20 peacekeepers of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force within the Area of Limitation, east of the B-Line, earlier today by armed elements of the Syrian opposition.

The members of the Security Council demanded the unconditional and immediate release of all the detained UN peacekeepers and called upon all parties to cooperate with UNDOF in good faith to enable it to operate freely and to ensure full security of its personnel.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their unconditional support for UNDOF.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

The Security Council adopted resolution on Wednesday, March 6th, diplomats said.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland:

draft resolution

The Security Council,

Recalling its previous
resolutions on the situation in Somalia, as well as other relevant Presidential
Statements on the situation in Somalia, in particular resolutions 733 (1992),
1425 (2002), 1772 (2007), 2036 (2012), and 2073 (2012),

Reiterating its full
support to the Secretary-General and his Special Representative, and for their
work with the African Union (AU), including the Chairperson of the AU Commission
and her Special Representative, as well as other international and regional
partners,

Reaffirming its respect
for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of
Somalia, recognizing the significant
progress that has been made in Somalia over the past year, and reiterating its commitment to a
comprehensive and lasting settlement of the situation in Somalia,

Commending the
contribution of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) to lasting peace
and stability in Somalia, noting its
critical role in improving the security situation in Mogadishu (particularly in
the military and policing roles) and other areas of south-central Somalia,
including Kismayo, expressing its
appreciation for the continued commitment of troops, police and equipment to
AMISOM by the Governments of Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone
and Uganda, and recognizing the
significant sacrifices made by AMISOM forces,

Calling on the Federal
Government of Somalia, with the support of AMISOM and international partners,
to consolidate security and establish the rule of law in areas secured by
AMISOM and the Security Forces of the Federal Government of Somalia, underlining the importance of building
sustainable, legitimate and representative local governance and security
structures in both Mogadishu and areas recovered from Al-Shabaab control, encouraging all relevant authorities to
uphold high standards in resource management, and reiterating the need for rapid and increased United Nations support
to the Federal Government of Somalia in these areas,

Underlining the importance
of capacity-building of the Security Forces of the Federal Government of
Somalia and in this regard, reaffirming
the importance of the re-establishment, training, equipping and retention of
Somali security forces, which is vital for the long-term stability and security
of Somalia, expressing support for
the ongoing European Union Training Mission and other capacity-building
programmes, and emphasizing the
importance of increased coordinated, timely and sustained support from the
international community,

Reiterating
its strong condemnation of all attacks on Somali institutions, AMISOM, United
Nations personnel and facilities, journalists, and the civilian population by
armed opposition groups, and foreign fighters, particularly Al-Shabaab, stressing that such groups, including
foreign fighters engaged in destabilizing Somalia, constitute a continuing
terrorist threat to Somalia, the region and the international community, stressing that there should be no place
for terrorism or violent extremism in Somalia, and reiterating its call to all opposition groups to lay down their
arms,

PP2:
Reaffìrming that proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological
Weapons, as Well as their means of delivery, constitutes a threat to
international peace and security,

PP3:
Underlining once again the importance that the DPRK respond to other
security and humanitarian concerns of the international community,

PP4:
Expressing the gravest concern at the nuclear test conducted by the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea ("the DPRK") on 12
February 2013 (local time) in Violation of resolutions 1718 (2006),
1874 (2009) and resolution 2087 (2013), and at the challenge such a
test constitutes to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons ("the NPT") and to international efforts aimed at
strengthening the global regime of non-proliferation of nuclear
Weapons, and the danger it poses to peace and stability in the region
and beyond,

PP5:
Concerned that the DPRK is abusing the privileges and immunities
accorded under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic and Consular
Relations,

PP7:
Expressing its gravest concern that the DPRK'S ongoing nuclear and
ballistic missile-related activities have further generated increased
tension in the region and beyond, and determining that there
continues to exist a clear threat to international peace and
security,

PP8:
Acting under Chapter the Charter the United Nations, and taking
measures under its Article 41,

1.
Condemns in the strongest terms the nuclear test conducted by the
DPRK on 12 February 2013 (local time) in violation and flagrant
disregard of the Council's relevant resolutions;